The University of Texas has suspended sophomore Tevin Mack, its leading scorer, for an indefinite period after "a violation of team rules," the school announced Thursday.

Mack is averaging 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Longhorns, who now have to move on to a difficult stretch of the Big 12 schedule with his presence for those games now up in the air.

"We have a set of standards that we expect people in our program to adhere to," Texas coach Shaka Smart said in a release. "Tevin has failed to reach them."

Here are three things to know about his suspension.

1. This couldn't come at a worse time for Texas

Texas hasn't exactly been thriving in Year 2 of the Shaka Smart era. The Longhorns are 7-9 with 4 losses to teams below the KenPom top-50, and are 1-3 in conference play after falling to TCU on Wednesday.

The three games over the next nine days for Texas: No. 10 West Virginia, No. 1 Baylor and No. 2 Kansas. Without Mack's scoring and defensive versatility, Texas could seriously be staring a 1-6 start in Big 12 play.

2. This isn't Mack's first run-in to trouble in Austin

The suspension for the sophomore forward marks the second on the season. Mack was suspended for an exhibition game and the season-opener after a violation of team rules over the summer.

If Smart works on a three-strike system, Mack is inching uncomfortably close to the edge. That's not a particularly good sign for a player in the middle of the second year of his college career.

3. Texas doesn't have the firepower to immediately replace Mack

Texas will have a difficult time replacing Mack's scoring production, particularly at the forward position. Aside from Mack, only two Longhorns players are averaging double-digits in scoring -- guard Kerwin Roach Jr. and center Jarrett Allen.

Graduate transfer Mareik Isom could be a viable replacement at forward, but he hasn't appeared in a game this season. So that's probably a stretch. Kendall Yancy, a senior guard, is out with an ankle injury. So it leaves the 'Horns particularly lacking in scoring. Texas' offense currently sits at 176th in terms of total offensive efficiency -- last among Big 12 conference teams.

Shaquille Cleare stands to likely see an expanded role in his absence. The senior forward is averaging 7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.